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Mt. Rainier (DC-Emmons) - August 2001
Nathan Wetmore, Jeremy Wetmore, Shaney Mullen, Roger Griswold, Kelly Nelson

The first attempt failed as well as the third. But the second was perfect :)

One day I hope to do it again and have an orchestra at the top waiting for me to summit, and when I do, as I slowly appear over the crest of the crater, they will play James Newton Howard's Empire State Building piece. I will look in amazement at the fact that a whole symphony orchestra is at the summit and that they made it up before me with cello's, trombone's, french horn's and the like. Then I won't care after a few minutes and begin to enjoy the music, the view, and a nice rest before the descent.

My thanks to Nathan, Jeremy, Roger and Shaney.

The trail starts at Paradise and heads up to Camp Muir (Green tent icon).
(Click image above to download the Google Earth KMZ. For a little help click here.)

The route from Camp Muir to the summit.
(Click image above to download the Google Earth KMZ. For a little help click here.)

Shaney and I decided to go up a day early to enjoy the day and not rush it, so we rushed it up the night before Nathan, Roger and Jeremy came up. We left the Paradise parking lot in the evening light but arrived at Muir in the dark. My extremely good leading skills landed us at the base of the saddle between Camp Muir and Anvil Rock about 500 feet below and to the southeast of Muir. We had to traverse back a bit and finding some lights at Muir to guide us in the correct direction. That night we cooked a little food and got a little sleep. The last time I was at Muir I barely slept a wink in the shelter with all the noisy sleeping bags and didn't have ear plugs with me. Well, I forgot my plugs this time and didn't sleep well this trip either.

So Shaney and I spent the day wandering around Muir, sitting in the sun. It was a beautiful day. Couldn't ask for better. Even though there was the stress of the next mornings climb in my mind, this was one of the most relaxing days I've had in the outdoors. I highly recommend staying the night and spending a day at 10,000 feet to clear up the mind.

More to come.....
One the bergschrunds on the Emmons Glacier. This was about 13,000 ft.
Taking a rest at 12,800 ft looking toward Mt. Adams. Front to back: Nathan, Roger, Jeremy, Shaney

the summit...ok, it's the crater. the summit was actually 20 yards behind us. Front to back: Jeremy, Shaney. That black dot in the middle of the crater is Roger taking a nap.


After taking the above picture I had to high tail it outta there. My limbs were tingling and numb, I was completey natious and dizzy, my heart felt like it was doing weird things and my head was POUNDING. The altitude sickness was coming on hard and strong. Just 10 minutes before I was completely fine. It was the weirdest feeling I've ever felt. 500 feet down I started to feel better, by 1,000 feet I was again, completely fine.


Sorry about the bad quality of photos. These were taken with a film camera and I don't have a very good scanner.
Click on each picture for a slightly larger version. Some of the pictures will show the route in red when the mouse is over the picture.
Kelly and Shaney snappin a shot at the car before heading up to Muir
Shaney trying to have the faith of a mustard seed to move this mountain out of the way and get us there sooner.
Camp Muir
Nathan (left) arriving at Muir
Jeremy approaching Muir
Jeremy arriving at Muir
Roger and Nathan cooking what could possibly be their last dinner.
This is Shaney wondering what he's doing sleeping in a rock shelter.
Gear waiting to be used.
The route in red up the Cathedral Gap. Two climbers are at the top.
Camp Muir with the shelter in the back, outhouses in the middle and helipad in the front.
Some tents at Muir with the trail in red heading off onto the Cowlitz glacier
Mt. St. Helens off in the distance.
Mt. Adams at sunset.
Final check of the gear on Ingraham Flats before committing to the DC
Resting close to the top of the DC
We spent most of the dark morning getting to the top of the DC. Then the daylight hours were on the Emmons glacier.
The morning sun's glow on the snow on the Emmon's glacier
Climbers heading up around 13,000 feet.
Taking a rest at about 14,000 feet. I think this was our last rest before the summit.
Roger, Jeremy and Shaney taking a break on the DC in decent.
Jeremy posing with the DC above
Roger taking a shot of himself on the DC. Ingraham Flats camp in the distance.
Jeremy and Shaney decending past Ingraham Flats.
Shaney adjusting crampons just below the DC with climbers heading up the cleaver in the distance
Nathan taking a look at the view heading down between Ingraham Flats camp and Muir. The route takes a right turn through Cathedral Gap just past the rock wall.
Roger and Nathan taking a rest after the decent to Muir.
Shaney and Jeremy taking a load off after the decent to Muir.
self explanitory
Roger glissading down the Muir snowfield with Jeremy close behind him going just as fast on foot.
Nathan watching his sleeping bag roll about 100 yards away from him. Shaney and Jeremy also watch in the background
Self Explanitory
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